Two Babe Ruth 1929 R316 Kashin Cards Lead a Vintage Baseball Collection

Two Babe Ruth cards from the 1929 R316 Kashin set headline a family collection now being shown publicly for the first time. The group also includes 1947–66 Exhibits and team-issued cards from the 1960s, offering a compact look at several formats collectors encountered across different eras of baseball card production.

Michael, a Colorado collector who inherited the cards from his father, contacted Just Collect with a collection that included 38 Kashin cards. His message called out the pair of Ruths. Images sent with his appraisal request allowed vintage card specialist Dan Phillips to review the key material before the collection arrived for an in-person inspection.

The 1929 Kashin set and its Ruth cards

Kashin Publications released the R316 baseball set in 1929, with 101 cards divided among four series. Each card measures 3.5 by 4.5 inches, noticeably larger than the familiar 2.5 by 3.5-inch card format. The cards came in small, colorful cardboard boxes rather than wax packs. A box held roughly 25 cards and originally sold for 25 cents.

The set’s selling point was hard to miss: every box included a Babe Ruth card. Ruth was still at the height of his playing career. He had won seven World Series titles and hit 714 home runs over his time with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves. In 1929, he hit 46 home runs and batted .345. The Yankees had also just won the 1928 World Series.

For today’s collectors, the box format and guaranteed Ruth card help explain the set’s appeal to buyers at the time. The cards themselves have a spare design: a black-and-white player image and facsimile signature on the front, with a blank reverse. There are no statistics or player biographies on the backs, a sharp visual difference from modern cards.

Just Collect has previously acquired 1929 Kashin cards with their original boxes. That experience informed Phillips’ initial review of Michael’s images, though the final assessment depended on seeing the cards in person and examining their condition.

Exhibits and team-issued cards broaden the collection

Michael’s father also collected 1947–66 Exhibits. Distributed by Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago, the set was issued over a 20-year span, with cards sold in packs of five. Completing a run across two decades presents a different collecting challenge from building a set released within a single year. The cards measure 3⅜ by 5⅜ inches and share Kashin’s basic visual approach: black-and-white imagery on the front and blank backs.

The collection includes Hall of Famers Duke Snider and Harmon Killebrew, along with Burdette. Their presence gives the Exhibits group notable player variety, while the large format and long release window distinguish it from the 1929 Kashin cards.

Other pieces show how baseball cards could reach fans through teams. The collection has 1961 team-issued cards from the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies, each measuring 4 by 5 inches, as well as 1965 St. Louis Cardinals photocards measuring 3¼ by 5½ inches. These formats sit apart from pack-issued cards, and their dimensions and team origins are useful details to record when sorting or describing them.

Condition review and the sale

After Michael received an initial evaluation, he sent the collection to Just Collect using its fully insured, two-day FedEx Express account. The in-person inspection focused on condition, a key factor in assessing vintage cards. Phillips completed the final evaluation the following day, then discussed it with Michael by phone. Michael accepted the offer, and payment was sent by company check via FedEx.

The process illustrates why photographs can support an initial review while a physical inspection remains important for a final assessment. With oversized cards, blank backs and decades-old surfaces, a closer look helps establish the condition of the specific pieces. No individual grades or sale prices were provided for this collection.

Michael’s inherited group brings together three distinct collecting threads: the 1929 Kashin set with its Ruth-in-every-box selling hook, Exhibits distributed across two decades, and team-issued material from the 1960s. Together, they show how card size, packaging and distribution could vary even within baseball collecting. The two Ruth cards provide the headline, while the accompanying sets make the collection a broader snapshot of vintage card formats.

Collectors interested in a review of their own cards can contact Just Collect through its form or its contact page. The company says it considers vintage sports and non-sports cards from 1879 to 2009, along with selected modern cards. It also describes options for in-person meetings, card show visits and insured shipping for mailed evaluations. Its travel schedule lists shows it plans to attend, and its New York City meeting information outlines another way to discuss a collection.

For further reading, the site links to stories about a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 5, buying and selling at The Philly Show, and opening baseball cards in Alaska. The collection’s most distinctive details remain easy to pin down: 38 Kashin cards, two Babe Ruths, and a mix of oversized issues that rewards careful identification and condition review.

Related collection stories: A T206 collection with Ty Cobb and rare backs, and an 1986 Fleer Basketball collection kept in Tupperware.